Process and apparatus for making tubular shells from sheet metal



April 30, 1935. BENEDICT 9 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING TUBULARSHELLS FROM SHEET METAL Filed Aug. 29, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

E A TTORNEYS.

B. BENEDICT 1,999,229

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING TUBULAR SHELLS FROM SHEET METAL April30, 1935.

Filed Aug. 29, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3% ATTORNEYE.

11 atented Apr. 30, 1935 STATES AENT DFFICE PROCESS AND APPARATUS FORMAKING TUBULAR SHELLS FROM SHEET METAL s 16 Claims.

This invention relates to processes and apparatus for making tubularshells, such as battery electrodes and the like articles, from flatsheet metal.

An object of this invention is to provide a process whereby sheet metalsuch as steel and the like metals maybe formed into tubular shellswithout unduly stretching the metal or disturbing the grain-thereof andin a continuous operation without necessitating annealing or the likeintermediate softening operations, whereby such tubular shells may bemade easily, efficiently and economically.

A further object of this invention is to provide a highly improvedapparatus of the character described, for forming seamless cups orshells of hard metal, such as steel, copper, iron and brass, which shallbe smooth and positive in action, comprise comparatively few and simpleparts, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture and yet.practical and eflicient to a high degree in use. I

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists'in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the*accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the variouspossible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is an elevational, cross-sectional view of the apparatusembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with parts ofthe yoke in crosssection; v

Fig. 3 is an end view of the cup formed with the die mechanism embodyingmy invention and illustrating an intermediate step in the formation ofthe finished shell;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view partially in cross-section of the cup.shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view (partly broken away) of the finishedshell formed with my improved apparatus and process;

Fig. 6 is a view taken on line 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is an elevational, cross-sectional view of the die mechanismembodying my invention for forming the cup shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 8 is an elevational, cross sectional view illustrating anintermediate position of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1,showing intermediate positions of the plungers.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, Ml designates a die embodyingthe invention for making the cup H shown in Figs. 3 and 4, from flatsheet metal; and i2 designates the drawing apparatus embodying theinvention for making the tubular shell M of said cup H. The die it]comprises a base plate l5 formed with an upwardly extending, integralcylindrical flange l6 and an axial screw-threaded opening N. Screwed insaid opening I! and extending downwardly from the plate is a rod 18provided with a nut 19 at the lower end thereof and a washer 2n restingon said'nut. Slidably mounted on said rod I8 is an annular member 2|having a flange portion 22. Upstanding from and fixed to said flange 22are a plurality of pins 24 slidably extending through parallel openings25 formed in said plate 15. A strong coil compression spring 26interposed between the member 21 and the washer 20 serves to normallyurge the a member 21 into contact with the underside of the plate 15.The pins 24, as clearly shown in Fig. 7, are disposed on the inside ofthe cylindrical wall 16, and are preferably of equal height. A ringmember 21 may be supported on the top ends of said pins, and preferablyhas a sliding fit with the inner wall of said flange l6.

Mounted on the plate l5 and within the flange i6 is a male die member 28having acylindrical portion 29 provided with an upper stepped dieportion 29a. The surface 290. is formed with radially or transverselycurved annular steps, the steps decreasing in diameter toward the top.Preferably, each step is formed with a cylindrical side surface and withan annular top surface, of substantially semi-circular cross-section.The die portion 29a. is preferably formed with an axial cylindricalopening 30 slidably receiving a plunger member 31 having an integralflange 82 contacting the inner horizontal surface of the die and formingthe top step of the die member 28. The top edge of the plunger maylikewise be curved similarly to the other steps of the die. A coilcompression spring 33 interposed between the plate l5 and the undersideof the member 3!, serves to normally lift said member 3!. Preferably,however, in the lifted position shown in Fig. 7, the plunger 3l forms ataller step than the remaining steps of the die.

A complementary punching and die member 35 is suitably mounted forvertical sliding movement for coaction with the die member 28. Saidmember 35 comprises an outer annular member '36 adapted to register withthe ring member 21,

Slidably mounted within the member 36 is the female die portion 31having steps 38 similarly shaped and adapted to cooperate with the stepsof die portion 29a. A rod 40 maybe fixed to said member 31 so that afterthe cup II is formed in the manner hereinafter described, the rod 40 maybe pushed downwardly in any suitable manner to lower said die member 31and release the cup.

The method of forming said cup I I with the die mechanism or press IIIwill now be described. A piece of fiat sheet metal is placed on top ofthe plunger 3| (with the punch and die member 35 lifted away from thelower die member 28). Said member 35 is then lowered first to theposition shown in Fig. 7. This operation causes the sheet plate to bendinto the form shown in Fig. 7. The spring 33 retains the plunger 3| inlifted position so as to draw the metal inwardly and form a frustoconical surface shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7.

The formation of said conical surface provides extra metal to permitformation of the curved steps without causing undue strain on the metal.

'Continued downward movement of the member 35 will thereafter cause thesheet metal to be sheared or punched annularly at the outer edge of thecylindrical portion 36, and the formation of the steps when the dieportions 29a and 38 are pressed together. During this action, the

plunger 3| will be pushed downwardly against die portion 36, which issomewhat spaced from the outer cylindrical surface 42 of the lower diemember 28. The cup shaped member H may thereafter be removed from thedie by lowering the rod 40. Said cup shaped member thus preformed fromthe fiat metal sheet is then formed into the shell M on the apparatus I2in the manner hereinafter described.

Said apparatus l2 comprises a supporting frame 50 provided at the bottomthereof with a fixed guide 5i having a horizontal longitudinal 'groove52.

Slidably mounted on said guide 5| is a substantially rectangular yoke 53having a bottom wall v54 received within the groove 52, a front uprightwall portion 55, a rear upright wall portion 56 and a top portion 51.For reciprocating said yoke 53, there is provided a horizontal shaft 59suitably journalled on the frame 50. Mounted on the outer ends of theshaft 59 are similar gears 60 meshing with small gears 61 mounted onshafts 62 suitably journalled on opposite sides of the frame 50. Fixedto said shafts 32 are large gears 53 meshing with small gears 64 mountedon shafts B5 likewise suitably journalled on opposite sides of the frame50. Fixed to said shaft 65 are large gears 66 meshing with gears BImounted on a common shaft 58, connected to any suitable drivingmechanism. Thus, the driving shaft 68 is connected through the balancedreducing gears 6|, 63, 54, 66 and 51, to the shaft 59.

Mounted on said shaft 59 is a 180 rock-cam l0 interposed between rollersH and 12 suitably mounted on the rear and front walls 56 and 55respectively of the yoke. Thus, upon rotating the shaft 59 in thedirection shown by the arrow, in Fig. 1, the yoke will be reciprocatedback and forth, since the cam will engage one roller during 180 rotationand another roller during the next 180 rotation. Attached to the wall 55of the yoke is a horizontal central plunger 14 extending forwardlytherefrom, for the purpose hereinafter described. g

Slidably mounted on said plunger 14 is a'tubular plunger 15 to the rearend of which is screwed a disc 11. Slidably mounted on the tubularplunger 15, is a tubular plunger 18 to the rear end of which there isscrewed a disc 19 and slidably mounted on said plunger 18 is a plungerto the rear end of which there is screwed a disc 8|, and slidablymounted on the plunger 80 is a tubular plunger 83 to the rear end ofwhich there is screwed a disc 84. The plungers I4, I5, 18, 80, and 83amof successively increasing diameter as shown in Fig. l, and the discsl1, 19, BI and 84 are normally spaced from one another. The diameter ofthe plunger 14 is substantially equal to the diameter of the plunger 3|so that the front end 85 thereof may fit within the smallest step Ha,lie of the cup II. The forward ends of plungers 15, 18, 80 and 83 are ofsemi-circular transverse cross-section. In normal position, the forwardends of the plungers are such that the cup ll may be fitted over thecurved ends of said plungers for contacting the same. Thus, the fiveplungers will contact the entire inner surface of the cup so that thecup may be tightly fitted on said plungers as shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings.

The plungers are adapted to be advanced in the manner hereinafterdescribed, for cooperation with spaced die members 90, 9|, 92 and 93,fixedly secured to the frame 50 in any suitable manner. The member 93 isprovided with a ring 94 having a somewhat greater inner diameter thanthe outer diameter of inner or central plunger 14, to allow for thethickness of the shell l4 to be formed. The member 92 is provided with aring 95 having an inner diameter likewise somewhat greater than theouter diameter of the plunger 15. The member 9| is provided with a ringmember 96 having an inner diameter somewhat greater than the outerdiameter of the plunger 18, and the member is provided with a ringmember 91 having an inner diameter somewhat greater than the'outerdiameter of the plunger 80. The ring members 94, 95, 96 and 91 arepreferably made of hard metal and are coaxial with one another and withthe plungers.

Means is provided for advancing all of the plungers simultaneously untilthe forward end of the plunger 83 of largest'diameter presses the outerannular ring portion Ilb of the cup ll against the adjacent surface 91aof the ring 91; for thereafter simultaneously advancing the plungers I4,15, i3, and 80 until the forward end of the plunger 89 presses the nextannular portion lib of the cup ll against the surface 960. of the ring96; then simultaneously advancing the plungers 18, I5 and 14 forwardlyuntil the forward end of the plunger 18 presses the next annular portionilb of the cup ll, against the ring then simultaneously advancing the Tothis end there is fixedly mounted on the shaft 59 on opposite sides ofthe central ca'm I0, a pair of similar cams I00, each of said camshaving a cammed surface III! and a dwell or circular surface I02. Fixedto the disc 11 on opposite sides of the yoke 55 are parallel rearwardlyextending plates N13- to the rear ends whereof are attached rollers I84adapted to contact the cam I00, so that upon rotating the shaft 59, thecammed surface IOI will first engage the rollers I04 for pushing theplates I03 and consequently the disc TII forwardly, until the dwellportion I02 of the cam engages the rollers. Obviously, during the periodof contact between the dwell portion I02 and the rollers, the disc IIwill not be advanced. Fixedly mounted on said shaft 59 on opposite sidesof the cams I are a pair of similar cams I each likewise provided with acammed surface I06 and a dwell surface IIII. Said cams I05 are adaptedto coact with the rollers I08 mounted at the ends of parallel platesI89, disposed on opposite sides of plates I03 and fixed at the forwardends thereof to the disc I9. A pair of similar cams IIII mounted on saidshaft 59 on opposite sides of the cams I05 are likewise provided withcammed surfaces I II and dwell surfaces I I2, and are adapted tocooperate with rollers'I I3 fixed at the ends of parallel plates H4.Plates H4 are disposed on opposite sides of plates I09 and are likewisefixed at the forward ends thereof to the next disc 8I so that-said discwill be advanced upon rotating the shaft 59. A pair of cams II5 arelikewise mounted on the shaft 59 and provided with cammed surfaces I I6and dwell surfaces I I I. Said cams I I5 are adapted to cooperatewithrollers I I0 mounted at the rear ends of parallel rods I I8, the forwardends of said rods being fixed to the front disc 84. w

The cams I0, I00, I05, III! and II5 are so arranged that as the shaft 59is rotated, the yoke 58 with its central plunger II will begin movingtogether with the discs II, I9, 8 I and 64. This simultaneous movementof all the plungers will continue until the dwell portions I II of thesmallest cams II5 engage rollers II8 of the rods II9.=... At this point,the plunger 83..will press the cup against the first ring 9I,thereafter, the disc 84 and its plunger 83 will not be advanced, but thefour inner plungers will continue movement together. until the dwellportion II 2 of the cam IIO en.- gages its rollers I I3, and the forwardend of the plunger 86 presses the cup against the next ring 96. Duringthis last named movement, the portion Hit of the cup and the outertransversely curved annular portion Nb of the cup have been shaped toform the cup I Is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8, thus reducing theouter diameter of the cup by one step. The portion I Id and theoutermost curved annular portion III) of the cup are shaped or formedaround the surfaceela'of the ring .97! and the cup is reduced indiameter by one step.

Continued movement of the shaft 59 will cause the three inner plungersI8, and I4 only to be simultaneously advanced until the dwell portionsIIII of the cams I05 engages rollers I08 and the cup is pressed againstthe ring 95. The three outer plungers then remain stationary and the twoinner plungers are advanced for eliminating anotherouter step'of the cupuntil the dwell portion'S IIIZ of the cag sglfllcontact the rollers1'04. The plunger I5 then in turn'becomes stationary and the innerplunger I4 alone is advanced by the advanced position, the discs 11, I9,8| and 84 are substantially in contact with one another. Thus, theoperation of the apparatus I2 thus far described shapes out the stepssuccessively beginning with the outer step to form the cup into atubular shell by holding each step in a sliding grip between the severalplungers and rings while gradually forcing said step out of said grip.

The entire action in forming the shell I4 from the cup I I occurs during180 rotation of the shaft 59. Duringthe second half of the turn, or thenext 180, the yoke 53 is returned to its original position, drawingtherewith the plunger I4. The outer disc 84 is returned to its originalposition by means of tension springs I attached at the forward endsthereof to the rods H9 and at the rear thereof to fixed portions of theframe 50. For returning the discs 11, I9, and 8| to their originalpositions, shown in Fig. 1, there is provided a rod I fixed at the rearend thereof to the wall 55 of the yoke 58. Attached to said rod arecross members I26, I2I and I28 normally disposed in front of said discsII, I9 and 8| respectively. The disc therethrough, and the cross pieceI26 is adapted to engage the front surface of said disc 11, forreturning said disc to its original position upon drawing the yokerearwardly. [The disc I9 likevwise has a bore I 3I of sufficient widthto permit the cross piece I26 to pass therethrough. The cross piece I2Ihowever, is somewhat longer than the cross'piece I26 so that upon movingthe yoke rearwardly, the cross piece I26 will pass through said openingI3I and the outer ends of the cross piece I2I will engage the disc I9for moving the same rearwardly. The disc BI is provided with an openingI82 large enough to permit both the cross pieces I26 and I2I to passtherethrough, but

the cross piece I28 is somewhat longer than'the cross piece I2I so thatthe outer ends of the cross piece I28 will engage the disc 8I for movingthe same rearwardly upon returning the yoke to its rearward position.

Thus after all of the plungers are advanced to the forward position forforming the tubular shell I4, the rearward movement of the yoke 53 willretract the central plunger I4 as well as the rod I25. Upon moving theyoke 53, the plunger I4 and the rod I25 rearwardly, the cross piece I26will pass through the openings I32 and I3I in the discs 8| and I9respectively. The cross piece I26 is adapted to contact the disc 11 formoving said disc, together with its plunger I5 rearwardly. This movementcontinues until the cross piece I2I, which is adapted to pass throughthe opening I32 in the disc 8|, contacts thedisc I9 for moving thesametogether with its plunger I8, rearwardly. The yoke 53 and plungersI4, I5, and I8 then move rearwardly together until the cross piece I28engages the disc 8| for also moving said disc together with its plunger80 rearwardly. During this latter movement, the disc 84 with its plunger83 will also be moved rearwardly by the springs I20. The disc 84,however, will stop in the normal rearward position thereof, as showninFig. 1, and the disc 8|, together with the discs I9, TI and plungers I8,15 and I4 continue movement rearwardly until the yoke 53, the discs 11,I9 and 0|, and the plungers reach their normal rearward positions.

It will thus be noted that the plunger I4 moves rearwardly until theplunger I5 is carried rearwardly therewith, andthereatfer the plungersI4,

action of the cam 10 for drawing-the-final steppfr"I5move1'earwardlytogether until the plunger I8 the cup and producing the tubular shellI4. In

begins moving rearwardly. Thereafter the three inner plungers 14, I5, I8move rearwardly together until the plungers 80 and 83 begin to moverearwardly therewith. Thereafter all of the plungers move rearwardlytogether until the disc 84 reaches its rearward position. Thereafter,the four inner plungers move rearwardly together until they all reachtheir rearward normal positions. The frame is provided with suitablestop means to retain the discs 11,19, BI and 84 in the rearwardpositions thereof.

Obviously after the shell I4 is formed, the same may be removed from theforwardend of the plunger I4 in any suitable manner and the rear roughedge thereof may be suitably trimmed. The shell I4 obviously may be madefor a large variety of uses, such as cartridge shells, cups and thelike.

A dominant feature of the invention is the making of the cup I I havingtransversely curved, annular steps, and thereafter forming the shell I 4by eliminating the steps, one step at a time,

beginning with the outermost step. The curved portions I lb of the stepsprovide-sufiicient metal so that during the forming processes on themachine I2, excessive strain due to stretching of the metal issubstantially eliminated, and the compression on the metal during theforming processes which usually hardenes the metal and renders the samebrittle, is greatly reduced. The tube I l may thus be formed without themetal hardening to such a degree as to become brittle or breaking orcracking, and the steps may hence be shaped out without the necessityfor annealing.

.The steps of the cup I I may thus be shaped out or eliminatedsuccessively without interrupting the processes for annealing purposes.Ihe curvature of the portions I lb supplies the extra metal necessary,so that the steps may be shaped out by the action of the plungers andrings of the machine I2 without actually causing a high degree ofstretching of the said metal, which often causes defects and breakageduring the forming processes. Obviously, the curved, radial portionsIII) of the cup may be angular or corrugated, or otherwise suitablyshaped, and the dies 29a and 31 and the ends of the plungerscorrespondingly shaped to provide the cup with extra metal. In other 7'words, the portions I Ihshould bani transverse non-rectilinearcross-section. l nrther'frioreahe provision of the curved ortransversely nonstraight surfaces IIb provides sufficient metal so as toprevent the thinning of the metal during the forming processes, usuallyresulting from stretching.

Another dominant feature of the invention is that the movable plunger 3|in the die I!) forming a frustoconical surface prior to the dieingoperation provides a sufiiciency of metal to relieve the strain causedduring the dieing operation.

My improved process and apparatus is particularly adapted for hard metalsuch as sheet steel whichwith methods or apparatus heretofore knowncannot be drawninto cupsiof considerable length as compared with theirdiameter without intermediate annealing and other practical difiicultiesand disadvantages. With my improved process and apparatus, I have foundit possible to form sheet steel, for example, into a shell of lengthequal to approximately three times mitsjiameter with a continuousoperation withi e p io mnd win s an out annealing of the metal.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which theseveral objects of this invention are achieved, and which is welladapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth,it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. The art of making tubular metal forms from sheet metal consisting inpreforming from the sheet a cup having a plurality of annular steps, andthen shaping out the steps successively beginning with the outer step byholding each step in a sliding grip while gradually forcing said stepout. of said grip to form said cup into a' tubular shell.

2. The art of making tubular metal forms from sheet metal consisting inpreforming from the sheet a cup having a plurality of annular stepshaving radial portions of non-rectilinear crosssection, and then shapingout the steps successively beginning with the outer step by holding eachstep in a sliding grip while gradually forcing said step out of saidgrip to form said cup into a tubular shell.

3. The art of making tubular shells from flat sheet metal consisting inpreforming from the sheet a cup having a plurality of radiallynonrectilinear annular portions and interconnected by annularcylindrical portions and constituting annular steps, then shaping outthe steps beginning with the outer step by holding each step in asliding grip while gradually forcing said step out of said grip toreduce the diameter and increase the depth of the cup.

4. The art of making tubular shells from flat sheet metal consisting inpreforming from the 1 sheet a cup having a plurality of radiallynonrectilinear annular portions and interconnected by annularcylindrical portions and constituting annular steps, then pressingagainst opposite sides of one step and against one side of thecontiguous annular step of lesser diameter for shaping out the firstmentioned step, and repeating this operation for the next step.

5. .The art of making tubular shells from fiat sheet metal consisting inpreforming from the sheet a cup having a plurality of radiallynonrectilinear annular portions and interconnected by annularcylindrical portions and constituting annular steps, then pressingagainst opposite sides of one step and against one side of the contiguous annular step of lesser diameter for shaping out the firstmentioned step, and repeating said operation successively on eachannular portion until all of the steps have been shaped out..

radial pcrtitms of non-rectilinear cr0ss-secti6n', 70

and thereafter shaping out the steps successively begirming with theouter step by holding each stepifi a sliding grip while graduallyforcing said step out of said grip to form. said cup into a tubularshell.

8. The art of making tubular shells from flat sheet metal consisting informing a disc of metal into a frusto-conical cup, then die stampingsaid cup to preform a plurality of annular transversely curved stepsthereon, and then shaping out the steps successively beginning with theouter step by holding each step in a sliding grip while graduallyforcing said step out of said grip to form the tubular shell.

9. The art of making tubular shells from fiat sheet metal consisting indie punching a sheet to preform a cup having a plurality of radiallynonrectilinear annular portions interconnected by annular cylindricalportions and constituting annular steps, and then shaping out the steps,beginning with the outer step, by holding each step in a sliding gripWhile gradually forcing said step out of said grip to reduce thediameter and increase the depth of the shell.

10. The art of making tubular shells from fiat sheet metal consisting indie punching a sheet to preform a cup having a plurality of radiallynon-rectilinear annular portions interconnected by annular cylindricalportions and constituting annular steps of successively decreasingdiameter, then clamping one of said non-rectilinear portions between twoannular members disposed on both sides of said portion, and thenpressing a plunger against the inner surface of the next non-rectilinearportion of lesser diameter for shaping out the first mentionednon-rectilinear portion.

11. The art of making tubular shells from flat sheet metal consisting inpreforming a cup having a plurality of steps of successively decreasingdiameter, each step comprising a non-rectilinear portion and an annularcylindrical portion, and then pressing a non-rectilinear portion of oneof said steps against an annular ring and forcing a member against thenon-rectilinear portion of the next step of lesser diameter for shapingout the first named step.

12. In apparatus of the character described, a central plunger, aplurality of tubular telescoping plungers slidably mounted thereon, saidtubular plungers being of successively decreasing length, discs at therear ends of said tubular plungers, a member attached to the rear ofsaid central plunger, cammed means for moving said member, a rodattached to said member, parallel to said central plunger and having aplurality of spaced, cross pieces thereon, each cross piece beingadapted to engage one of said discs, each disc being formed with anopening adapted to permit the crosspiece for each of said discsrearwardly thereof, to pass therethrough.

13. In apparatus of the character described, a central plunger, aplurality of tubular telescoping plungers slidably mounted thereon, ayoke attached to the rear of said central plunger,

cammed means for advancing said yoke,andaplu- I rality of camsassociated with said cammed means for advancing said tubular plungers inpredetermined relation to said first plunger, and a member associatedwith said yoke and having a lost motion connection with said tubularplunger for moving said tubular plungers rearwardly to the normalrearward positions thereof.

14. In apparatus of the character described, a plurality of slidablymounted telescoping plungers the ends of said plungers forming a steppedannular surface adapted to receive a cup formed with a series of annularsteps, fitted thereon, a plurality of fixed, spaced annular rings ofgradually decreasing diameter, coaxial with said plungers and disposedforwardly thereof, means for advancing said plungers until the outerplunger presses the outer step of said cup against the first ring ofgreatest diameter, means for thereafter retaining the first plungerstationary, and advancing the remaining plungers simultaneously forshaping out the outer step of said cup, until the next inner plungerpresses the next step of the cup against the next ring-of lesserdiameter, then holding the two outer plungers stationary and advancingthe remaining inner plungers for shaping out the next step of the cup,until the next inner plunger presses the next step of the cup againstthgfnext ring of said still lesser diameter.

15. In apparatus of the character described, a plurality ofslidablymounted telescoping plungers, the ends of said plungers forming astepped annular surface adapted to receive a cup formed with a series ofannular steps, a plurality of spaced, fixed annular ring portions ofsuccessively decreasing diameters coaxial with said plunger and disposedforwardly thereof, means, for advancing said plungers simultaneouslyuntil the outer plunger presses the outer step of said cup against thefirst ring of greatest diameter, means for thereafter retaining thefirst plunger stationary, and advancing the remaining plungerssimultaneously for shaping out the outer step of said cup until theinner plunger presses the next step of the cup against the next ring oflesser diameter, means for then holding the two outer flanges stationaryand advancing the remaining inner plungers for shaping out the next stepof the cup until the next inner plunger presses the next step of the cupagainst the next ring of still lesser diameter, and means for thereaftermoving the plungers rearwardly to return the same to the normal rearwardpositions thereof.

16. In apparatus of the character described, a plurality of slidablymounted telescoping plungers having transversely, non-rectilinear endportions adapted to receive a cup formed with a series of transversely,non-rectilinear annular steps, and a plurality of fixed, spaced, annularrings of successively decreasing diameters coaxial with said plungersand disposed forwardly thereof, the ring of greatest diameter beingdisposed adjacent said plungers, means for advancing the plungers untilthe outer plunger presses the outer step of the cup against the firstring, means for thereafter retaining the first plunger stationary andadvancing the remaining plungers for drawing out the outer step of thecup until the next inner plunger presses the next stepof the cup againstthe next ring.

BERNARD BENEDICT.

